I'm just wondering if we brought advance copies of "House of cards." I wish things were that ruthlessly efficient. It's true. Kevin spacey, this guy's getting a lot of stuff done. President Obama likely to catch a few "House of cards" episodes on his weekend off in California. All of you who have been through season, don't spoil it for us. Kevin spacey here to talk about it. After we look at why so many Americans are entertained by a city they appear to hate. Reporter: Washington is Hollywood for ugly people? Seems to be over. With netflix's "House of cards." The emmy-winning parody called veep, and scandal, homeland, with a possible double agent on the loose in Washington. We have to go in. He's on to me. Come back, Kari. Reporter: If somebody landed from Mars and turned on television, what kind of Washington, D.C.? It's a friendly place? No a den of inequity and corruption. Even heros are not heroic. Reporter: It's true. The Washington seen on TV these days, it's not Mr. Smith goes to Washington, where there was one good man fighting the forces of good and evil. I'd like to get them set there time, sir. I'm not going to leave this body until they are set. Reporter: And not the west wing with the whole team of good people fighting the forces of dark and evil. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful and committed citizens can change the world. Reporter: No, frank Underwood, played by Kevin spacey and embodied the force of good and evil. Scheming his way to the top as majority whip. You did that? No, I revised the parameters of my stance. It's lying. Which is politics. Reporter: He's a puppet master, pulling the strings and killing to get what he wants. There is but one rule, hunt or be hunted. Reporter: Capturing perhaps a certain mood on the loose in the culture at large. We have a political movement based on the suspicion of government. The tea party congress is constantly setting new records for unpopularity. It's a moment people are thinking about Washington in negative terms. Reporter: So vice president on "Veep," which is a walking character flaw of constant and constantly frustrated ambition. Why didn't I know about this? I'm going. They can't keep me out of there. Hi, guys. Reporter: So where did all the real heros go? Pierre bagley who took over the Washington, D.C. Office of motion picture and television development, thinks they're still out there waiting to the found by the script writers. All the intrigue on capitol hill, the white house, it's fodder for great drama. And they're catching up to it now. Reporter: The other thing he says about Washington as storyline -- This is the most exciting city in the world. There's no other city like Washington, D.C. Reporter: You think Washington is more exciting than Hollywood? Absolutely. Reporter: Why? It's real. Reporter: You think Washington is real? Oh, it's real. Let me say this, it's as real as it gets. Reporter: And as if on cue, we are interrupted by a breaking in on the conversation. It would have ruined shot in the TV show, but not in frank Underwood's world, where nothing happens unless the puppet master politician wants it to. For this week, Jon Donovan, ABC news, Washington.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.